I took a month off. A month off blogging and most of social media. I left my laptop upstairs gathering dust on my desk.

The time out from my normal routine led to great perspective and some exciting clarity. I think it is a great idea for anyone. We are constantly evolving and time out and a bit of rethinking is just what we need to get the next surge forward.

So, what exactly is JOMO?

Well, JOMO – the Joy of Missing Out – is basically the opposite of FOMO – the Fear of Missing Out. I wrote about this a while back, as it was something I struggled with. My health prevents me from doing quite a few things, and even when I say I will, I often have to cancel. I always felt a bit peeved to be honest. I sat at home on my sofa watching events on social media and wishing I was in the thick of it.

A shift in my thinking over the past months made me realise that it is ok not to be everywhere and that there is huge joy in simply staying at home and investing in my own life. I love to paint, and to create and truthfully, I am so happy being creative that it’s a joy not to worry about what I might be missing out on and simply embrace the present.

I’ve taken up crochet again, as a tool to stop mindless scrolling and its is truly a joy to see the little piles of granny squares that will soon become a blanket.

I have also realised how often we don’t pay attention to the person we are with.

Mom, do you really need to Instagram that?

As a travel lover and travel blogger I love sharing my experiences, finding new vistas and new flavours across the world. Recently I was in Manchester visiting family. I was trying to be subtle as I snapped sights, while still enjoying this special time. My son and I went to a Japanese restaurant for lunch. We both love Japanese and this had become a bit of a tradition when we were together. The food arrived, and I opened Instagram to add to my story. Mom, do you really need to Instagram that? I stopped short. Of course, I didn’t. I needed to spend special time with my son who I don’t get to see that often now he is living in another country. I also needed to savour the aroma of the gorgeous food in front of me.

Taking time out

I took time out for January. I didn’t blog, and I shared very little online. I felt strong. I felt like I was in the moment and took a huge amount of joy from it. We had a little budget trip to Spain, a belated Christmas present, and keeping account of everything wasn’t a priority. Yes, I did take a few snaps and shared some of it online, but I was also very conscious of simply feeling joy in the moment.

I love my blog

I have been writing my blog for nearly 4 years now. I love how it has opened my world and brought me back to the joy of writing. I have met so many amazing people and have had the true joy of connecting to people all over the world, as their lives touched mine, and mine theirs.

I am not giving up my blog, or social media, which I really enjoy too. What I am doing is embracing JOMO and knowing that everything has a place in life. I have committed to blogging at least once a month – less than I originally planned. I will blog about things that excite me and that I cannot wait to share. I am also committed to finishing my book (it has been a long time coming) and focussing on my art ventures.

Thank you all for your support, for following me and reading my ramblings. My blog brings me Joy.

Between you and I have given up on FOMO. If I am not meant to be there, then why fear missing out. I’ll embrace JOMO and sitting by the fire, sipping on hot tea, reading a good book or simply being in the moment.